Operations

Colorado Offers $4M in Grants for Alt-Fuels

February 3, 2016
• by Staff

Fleets predominantly working within the marked region qualify for the AFV funding.

Fleets in Colorado can now apply for grant funding to pay for the incremental cost of alternative-fuel vehicles (AFVs). The funding is part of the ALT Fuels Colorado program, administered by the Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC), and is intended to improve air quality and incentivize widespread, early adoption of these vehicles in Colorado. This year, the second year of the program, $4 million will be available for vehicles.

AFVs that are eiligible include new OEM compressed natural gas (CNG) , electric, propane autogas and CNG bi-fuel vehicles over 6,000 lbs. GVWR. Funding for AFV purchases is available for public, non-profit, and private fleets operating predominately within Colorado’s ozone nonattainment and carbon monoxide maintenance areas, which include all of Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson counties as well as areas of El Paso, Teller, Larimer, and Weld counties.

The grant will pay up to 80% of the incremental difference between the alt-fuel vehicle and the comparable, conventionally fueled vehicle up to the following maximums:

Duty Class

RAQC Funding for Public & Non-Profit Fleets

RAQC Funding forPrivate Fleets

Light-Duty AFV (6,001-10,000 lbs.)

$7,000

$3,000

Medium-Duty AFV (10,001-26,000 lbs.)

$25,000

$15,000

Heavy-Duty AFV (26,001+ lbs.)

$35,000

$22,000

Vehicles may be purchased or leased, but leased vehicles must be kept for a minimum of five years.

Applications are due Feb. 29. Additional information can be found in the application guide.

Seemingly acting out of character, the Environmental Protection Agency on Nov. 13 announced it will launch a rulemaking to further cut the emission of nitrogen oxide from diesel-powered heavy-duty trucks.

Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors plan to introduce solar charging on certain vehicles after 2019 to help meet global regulatory targets and improve vehicle efficiency, the South Korea-based automakers have announced.

General Motors has proposed a national mandate that would require that 25% of the vehicles sold by manufacturers in 2030 would be zero-emission vehicles, according to comments submitted as part of President Trump's plan to roll back fuel economy standards.

Tennessee Tech said some of the conclusions of its study of glider kit emissions were not accurate, and that the data does not support its earlier statements that the remanufactured engines used in glider kits performed as well as OEM engines certified under EPA emissions standards.